Dear M^r. Darwin,

There has been much talk in our papers lately about M^r. Darwin owning himself wrong about sterility in hybrids,—and I have taken occasion to set your position right, as I understand your position to be, in my department of the New York Independent.¹

You may also be interested in the succeeding item on hybrids in Nature. My friend Isaac C. Martindale has gone closely over the Bartram oak question—long supposed to be a hybrid—and I have asked him to send you a copy.²

I think in some cases hybrids may be more fertile than their parents. We get here considerable seed (and raise seedlings) from Magnolia Soulangeana, while I cannot remember ever to have seen any seed on M. conspicua, which I suppose to be one of its parents.³

I hope time is behaving leniently with you. It seems I have occasionally to “propose an amendment” to some proposition of yours,—but I think there is no one here who more thouroughly appreciates the great value of your labors, or who more sincerely prays that you may live long to continue your good work.⁴

Very Sincerely yours | Thomas Meehan